Nicolas Mezzanato joined the 111th Airborne Division of the US Army and was deployed to Iraq in 2005. His desire was to be a hero but it quickly became a decent into madness. During that time, the conflict was so intense that it left scars on his emotional body, and these scars would only become apparent on his return to civilian life.

In this interview, Nicolas tells Ahonu of how his faith helped him in the war zone but was of no use to him when he returned. He speaks about the ignorance and regret attached to military engagement, and how differently he would be if he knew then what he knows now.